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VM folder removed after update

Really I don't know why, but the MacOS update (still the latest to 10.13.1) delete my folder VM in the root of the hard disk. But only VM folder; I have another folder named Projects, but no action performed on this. The support said the issue is on me, because I forgot to backup this folder before performing the update; this is also true, but why an OS update should remove the VM folder ? Honeslty I was shocked from this MacOS behaviour.

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, 4 TBT3), macOS High Sierra (10.13.1)

Posted on Nov 3, 2017 3:57 AM

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21 replies

Nov 15, 2017 6:00 AM in response to boba22

boba22 wrote:


I confirm that High Sierra deleted my /VM/ folder after update. F*CK! There was my Windows virtual machine. Shame on you Apple.

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Nov 3, 2017 4:05 PM in response to mauropalu

Are you talking the /private/var/vm folder (where macOS keeps the swapfile(s) and sleepimage files).

Or when you say VM, are you talking about a Virtual Machine folder?


Could you be more specific?


And while most operating system upgrades do not touch any user files, it is always a good idea to have a backup (even better 2) before doing any major software upgrade (years of experience, and having been burned more than once, taught me this).

Nov 3, 2017 4:36 PM in response to BobHarris

No, I’m talking about the /VM folder that I’ve created to store my virtual machines (both parallels and virtual box ones).

And another thing is: the update was classified as a minor security update if I’m not wrong. Whenever I updated to a major release I always made a full backup, but in this case I thought the update was superfluous

Nov 3, 2017 5:06 PM in response to mauropalu

Is it possible the installer moved the folder to a subfolder somewhere?

Or maybe it set the folder invisible?


For example is all the disk space still there? Virtual machines tend to have more than a few gigabytes of storage in their container files.


If invisible, from an Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal session does the /VM show up with an 'ls' command

/bin/ls -leO@ /


For moved to a subfolder, you could try

EasyFind (free download)

<http://www.devontechnologies.com/products/freeware.html>


Or from a Terminal session

find / -iname VM -type d

-OR- maybe better

sudo find / -iname VM -type d

Password: <your password here assuming you are logged in as the admin>

Nov 4, 2017 2:16 AM in response to mauropalu

I am sitting here in front of HS 10.13.1 and a /vm folder with swapfile0 exists. This is a APFS SSD, and the /vm folder is not hidden. There is another /private/var/vm folder that contains a 1GB sleepimage.


The operating system installer is a bulldozer, and is not going to pop any warnings about wiping out stuff that gets in its way.

Nov 4, 2017 2:51 AM in response to VikingOSX

I have two MacOS: an iMac with Sierra 10.12.6 and a Macbook 2016 with High Sierra 10.13.1. None of them has the /vm or /VM folder. I know about /private/var/vm folder, but nothing about the /vm or /VM folder.

For sure I'll move my /VM folder away from the root. But the belief that the OS update should not have this behaviour, remains.

VM folder removed after update

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